In this second installment of the Free Game series, Rich and Kevin pull back the curtain on the communications and field operations that make or break a political campaign. From crafting a message that hits (and sticks), to building a data-driven ground game that actually turns out voters, this episode is a crash course in campaign mechanics—and a consultant-level education for free. With stories from Obama’s Iowa field operation to Bloomberg’s message meltdown, the Maroon Bison crew brings real receipts from the trail, complete with debate prep war stories, Chick-fil-A branding analogies, and a reminder that if your campaign doesn’t know its win number—you’re probably going to lose.

📍 (06:41) — Two Departments, One Mission: Communications & Field
Rich and Kevin explain why these two parts of a campaign must work in sync. Comms builds the message, field delivers it to voters—online, on the phones, and at the door. And if they’re not aligned? The whole campaign suffers.

📍 (10:35) — Who’s On Your Comms Team? Roles That Matter
They break down the communications hierarchy: director, press secretary, digital lead, creative director, and the all-important pollster. Messaging isn’t just writing good speeches—it’s science, branding, and strategy.

📍 (24:21) — Why Message Discipline Wins Elections
You may be tired of saying the same thing over and over, but voters need to hear it 13 times before it sticks. From Obama’s “community organizer” line to Trump’s MAGA branding, repetition = recognition.

📍 (34:27) — Field Game: Your Ground-and-Pound Strategy
A deep dive into voter ID, persuasion, and turnout—plus why the voter file is your Bible and your organizers better be building an army. The motto: organize yourself out of a job.

📍 (46:40) — Know Your Win Number—or You’re Toast
Rich and Kevin wrap up with a key principle: if your campaign doesn’t know how many votes it needs to win, you’re not serious. From contact rates to persuasion tracking, it's all about the numbers—and the numbers don’t lie.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
🐍 All the everyday candidates putting their names on the ballot and stepping into the arena. It takes guts to run.

🐍 And a special shoutout to Stew Cornelius, the behind-the-scenes MVP keeping the Maroon Bison team on point and ready for primetime.

In Part 2 of their deep-dive with strategist Jake Orvis, Rich and Kevin unpack the overlooked heart of modern campaigns: research, tracking, fundraising—and the politics of being a white dude in a Black campaign space. From tracking candidates with binoculars to dodging call time in the men’s room, this episode offers a behind-the-scenes look at campaign mechanics, racial dynamics in Southern politics, and why nobody really likes asking for money.

The trio blends real-world advice with hilarious personal stories—plus reflections on managing egos, getting cursed out at barbecues, and why campaign operatives are some of the closest people you’ll ever work with. It’s vulnerable, technical, and as always, Southern as hell.

📍(01:00) - The Research Game: Foyers, Memos & Receipts
Jake breaks down the vital role of political research—from digging up court records to vetting your own candidate before the opposition does. It’s about precision, receipts, and never mixing up “John Smith.”

📍(07:00) - Trackers, Camcorders & Binoculars
What happens when you’re the white intern who “looks Republican”? Jake tells the hilarious story of his first tracking gig (involving a canceled event and a parking garage stakeout), and how campaign surveillance has evolved in the TikTok era.

📍(18:30) - The Art of Call Time
No one likes it—but fundraising call time is the engine of modern campaigns. The crew discusses why it’s painful, who struggles with it the most, and why you'd better be ready to call your exes if you're serious about running.

📍(24:00) - Hardest Jobs on a Campaign
From body person to call time manager, the team explores the toughest campaign roles—the ones with all the responsibility and none of the power. Rich, Kevin, and Jake debate which position is the most grueling and underrated.

📍(31:00) - Race, Respect & Running in the South
Jake opens up about navigating race and privilege as a white campaign manager working for Black women candidates. They get real about the expectations, historical context, and the difference between “diversity” and empowerment.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
Campaign Body People win this week’s Mamba Mentality Award. These behind-the-scenes MVPs manage logistics, egos, schedules, and crisis control—often with no glory, no backup, and no sleep. Salute.

Rich and Kevin welcome longtime political staffer and campaign strategist Jacob Orvis. From his Statesboro, GA roots to campaign war rooms across Georgia, Jake shares his journey from intern to operative and the unexpected lessons learned along the way.

The trio reflects on grits and growth: how food built campaign families, how campaigns forge lifelong relationships, and how one Google Form changed Jacob’s life—both professionally and personally. It’s part origin story, part masterclass on political mentorship, and part roast—with cameos from Cory Booker etiquette fails, HBCU food spots, and one unforgettable Dogzilla hot dog incident.

📍(00:30) - Southern Hospitality & Campaign Meals
Why feeding your people matters—and how Rich’s tradition of buying lunch helped shape Jake’s approach to mentorship.

📍(09:00) - Statesboro Stories & Georgia Southern Rejections
Jake breaks down his hometown, growing up with two chemist parents, and how Morehouse shaded Georgia Southern’s "Harvard of the South" claim.

📍(21:00) - Finding Politics at Georgia Tech
Jake opens up about switching from pre-med to politics, discovering the field through college Dems, and accidentally dressing like Tom Cruise for a Cory Booker event.

📍(25:00) - Campaign Life & Learning by Doing
From interning at the Georgia Dems to working with Rich on major campaigns, Jake shares key lessons about persistence, execution, and learning on the fly.

📍(38:00) - Finding Love in the Field
How a campaign internship form led to meeting Maria, now his wife and professional partner—and why political life is often personal too.

🏆 Mamba Mentality Award
Jacob Orvis gets this week’s Mamba Mentality Award for his adaptability, hustle, and commitment to getting the job done—whether it's bodying a U.S. Senator or building spreadsheets in the trenches.